Chapter 5
chapter5
Mia’s stomach roiled at the thought of what was about to happen on that bed. Every instinct told her to run, but she forced herself to maintain a mask of cold indifference. She stepped into the walk-in closet and began pulling her few belongings from the shelves. It didn't take long; three years of marriage fit into a shockingly small space.
“Kaleb, that suitcase looks like a designer brand,” Maya called out from the bedroom, her voice dripping with artificial concern. “Give her a recyclable bag for her things. We wouldn't want her taking anything Timothy paid for.”
A moment later, Kaleb appeared with a tattered, stained plastic bag. He tossed it at Mia’s feet with a sneer. “Use this.”
Mia knelt to transfer her clothes. Behind her, Maya’s voice continued to lash out. “Make sure to search her before she leaves, Kaleb. We don't want her 'accidentally' packing any jewelry that doesn't belong to her.”
At those words, Mia’s heart hammered against her ribs. She remembered Timothy’s cold decree: he didn't want the baby. He was just a few feet away in the bathroom; if he or Maya found the pregnancy test result buried in her things, her child wouldn't stand a chance.
With Maya and Kaleb hovering like vultures at the closet door, Mia made a desperate, gut-wrenching decision.
She turned her back to them, secretly retrieved the crumpled pregnancy test, and tore it into tiny shreds. With a dry throat and a breaking heart, she forced herself to swallow the pieces. As she stared at Timothy’s expensive suits lining the walls, the last spark of love she held for him finally died.
From this day forward, she vowed silently, my child will have nothing to do with the Barrett family.
She stood up, clutching the flimsy plastic bag. “Do you want to check this now?”
Maya covered her nose, looking revolted. “Ugh, just get out. That bag stinks! I don't even want to touch your things.” Maya was in a hurry; she needed Mia gone before Timothy finished his shower so there would be no chance for second thoughts.
Kaleb stepped forward and shoved Mia toward the door. “Are you deaf? The lady said get out!”
Mia walked out of the villa alone. The driveway was short, but every step felt like a mile. Just as she reached the gates, Kaleb caught up to her. He snatched the bag from her hand and dumped its contents onto the gravel, kicking through her clothes as if looking for stolen treasure. He found nothing.
Mia crouched on the ground, her fingers trembling as she tried to gather her things from the dirt.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Seeing the caller ID, the tears she had been holding back for three years finally spilled over. She answered with a choked sob. “Aunt Patricia.”
“Mia? Why are you crying? What’s wrong?”
“I’m getting a divorce, Aunt Patricia,” Mia whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m losing my family all over again.”
“Oh, you silly girl. Who told you that you don't have a family?” Patricia’s voice was uncharacteristically excited. “That’s why I’m calling! Your biological family finally tracked me down. Mia, you aren't an orphan. You have three older brothers from the Lane family in Nord City. And three older cousins—that’s six men ready to burn the world down for you. They’re coming for you, Mia. They are your family.”
Mia froze. “The… Lane family? My brothers?”
She had spent her life believing she was unwanted, but the name 'Lane' struck a chord of pure shock. Before she could ask more, her screen went black. Her battery had died.
Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and hope. Could it be true? Did I actually have people who wanted me?
“What kind of act are you putting on now, Mia?”
A voice like ice shattered her thoughts. Timothy stood at the villa entrance, dressed in a loose bathrobe, his hair still damp. He had intended to be "charitable" by letting her stay a few more days to find her footing. Seeing her huddled in the dirt with her clothes scattered around her, he felt a strange, uncomfortable surge of irritation.
“I told you that you could leave in a few days,” Timothy said, walking toward her. “Why are you making such a scene in the driveway while I'm in the shower?”